Yashpal Arya, a confidante of the chief minister, has been given revenue, disaster management, flood control, irrigation and co-operatives.

Surendra Negi has got health, family planning, science and techonology, army welfare and sugar, while Preetam Singh Panwar will hold charge of food and civil supplies, micro-irrigation, rural development and panchayati raj.

The Congress government in the hill state, sworn in March 20, has been walking on ice-thin majority since Bahuguna was named the chief minister by the party, leading to protests by Congress leader and central minister Harish Rawat.

His supporters led by Harak Singh Rawat initially refused to be sworn in as legislators. They fell in line only a few days back.